Bob Lodge was born on June 30, 1941, in New York City, New York. After attending the Air Force ROTC program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for one year, he entered the U.S. Air Force Academy on June 27, 1960, and was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force on June 3, 1964. Lt Lodge next received an Air Force Institute of Technology assignment to complete his Master's Degree in Astronautics at Purdue University, Indiana, from June 1964 to March 1965, followed by Undergraduate Pilot Training. He earned his pilot wings at Moody AFB, Georgia, in March 1966, and then attended F-105 Thunderchief Combat Crew Training from May to November 1966. His next assignment was as an F-105 pilot with the 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from December 1966 to July 1967, followed by service as an F-105 pilot with the 12th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kadena AB, Okinawa, from July to December 1967. Lt Lodge served as an F-4 Phantom II pilot with the 476th Tactical Fighter Squadron at George AFB, California, from December 1967 to June 1968, and then served as an F-4 pilot with the 356th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Misawa AB, Japan, from June 1968 to August 1969. His next assignment was as an Air Operations Officer with Headquarters 5th Air Force at Fuchu AS, Japan, from August 1969 to December 1970, followed by service as an F-4 pilot, Assistant Chief of Fighter Operations/Tactics, Weapons Officer, and then Chief of the Fighter Tactics Branch of the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Udorn Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from January 1971 until he was killed in action while flying a combat mission over North Vietnam on May 10, 1972. Maj Lodge was officially listed as Missing in Action until being declared dead on May 9, 1973. His remains were returned to the United States on September 30, 1977, and he was buried at the U.S. Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado. During his two tours in Southeast Asia, he flew 186 combat missions, and was credited with the destruction of 3 MIG-21 fighters in aerial combat. Maj Lodge also accumulated over 2,000 flying hours during his Air Force career, was posthumously awarded Senior Pilot Wings by the Air Force, and was posthumously awarded the 1974 Jabara Award from the U.S. Air Force Academy.

His 5th Silver Star Citation reads:

Major Robert A. Lodge distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as an F-4D Aircraft Commander over Southeast Asia on 21 February 1972. On that date, Major Lodge led a flight of two tactical fighters that provided cover from hostile aircraft for bombing operations in support of friendly forces. With complete disregard for his own safety, Major Lodge aggressively engaged a superior number of hostile aircraft in aerial combat and successfully destroyed one. By his gallantry and devotion to duty in the dedication of service to his country, Major Lodge has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.